Asm. Martin Garrick

Existing law specifies how reports required or requested by law to be submitted by a state or local agency to the Members of either house of the Legislature generally are to be submitted. This bill would require each state or local agency that is required to submit one or more reports to the Legislature to submit, by April 1 of each year, a list of all reports the agency has not yet submitted to the Legislature along with a status summary for each report, including a statement explaining why any overdue report has not yet been submitted and a compliance plan, as specified. In addition, the bill would provide that the Legislature may withhold appropriations for an agency that fails to submit timely reports.

This measure would designate May 2012 as Foster Care Month in California.

This measure would designate the week of May 13 through May 19, 2012, as Food Allergy Awareness Week.

(1) Existing law requires that the identification envelope for returning a vote by mail ballot contain specified information and that a vote by mail ballot be received by the issuing elections official or the precinct board no later than the close of polls on election day. This bill would additionally require that the identification envelope include the last 4 digits of the voter's California driver's license number or California identification card number or, if the voter does not possess either of those types of identification, the last 4 digits of the voter's social security number, and would require that the voter's signature and numeric identifying information be verified as being consistent with the voter's state or federal records prior to the voter's ballot being counted. The bill would also require that the identification envelope have a security flap or sleeve to conceal the voter's signature and identifying information during mailing. (2) Existing law requires that a person desiring to vote announce his or her name and address to the precinct board member at the polling place and then write the information in the index, except for specified exceptions. This bill would require a person desiring to vote at a polling place to produce and show proof of identification, as defined, to the precinct worker at the polling place. This bill would also provide for a voter to cast a provisional ballot if the voter declines to provide, or is otherwise unable to provide, sufficient proof of identification. This bill would also provide exemptions from the requirement to provide proof of identification for voters residing in state-licensed care facilities that are used as polling places and voters who establish a religious objection to being photographed. This bill would also provide that, for purposes of complying with the proof of identification requirement, a registered voter could obtain a state-issued identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles at no cost. (3) Because this bill would increase the duties of local elections officials regarding conducting elections, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Existing law provides for licensing of veterinarians by the Veterinary Medical Board. Existing law provides that a person is practicing veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry when engaged in various actions and procedures with respect to animals, including the performance of a surgical or dental operation. This bill would provide that "dental operation" for these purposes does not include a service whereby a person utilizes nonmotorized instruments to remove calculus, soft deposits, plaque, or stains from an exposed area of a household pet's tooth above the gum line, provided that the service is performed exclusively for cosmetic purposes and the person performing the service first obtains written permission from the person requesting the service.

This measure would designate the second full week in April as California Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

This measure would proclaim May 6, 2012, to May 12, 2012, inclusive, to be California Charter Schools Week, and would state that the Legislature joins the California Charter Schools Association in congratulating charter schools for the accomplishments and contributions they have made to public education.

This measure would honor and recognize the service and sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces and their families on the occasion of Armed Forces Day on May 19, 2012.

Existing law generally imposes an annual minimum franchise tax of $800, except as provided, on every corporation incorporated in this state, qualified to transact intrastate business in this state, or doing business in this state, and on every limited partnership, limited liability partnership, and limited liability company registered, qualified to transact business, or doing business in this state, as specified. This bill would reduce that minimum tax, as provided, for a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, and limited liability company that is a small business, as defined, that first commences business operations on or after January 1, 2013. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

The Personal Income Tax Law authorizes various deductions in computing income that is subject to tax under that law. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2013, allow a deduction in connection with health savings accounts in conformity with federal law. In general, the deduction would be an amount equal to the aggregate amount paid in cash during the taxable year by, or on behalf of, an eligible individual, as defined, to a health savings account of that individual, as provided. This bill would, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2013, also provide related conformity to that federal law with respect to the allowance of rollovers from Archer Medical Savings Accounts, health flexible spending arrangements, or health reimbursement accounts to a health savings account, and penalties in connection therewith. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.